Capturing a dream

Capturing a dream

After a chance meeting with the 44-year-old Kitchener boxer – who is coming off a six-round win via unanimous decision over Whitby’s Phil Rose in September during the Royals City Rumble card at Sleeman Centre in Guelph – at the gala screening of China Heavyweight in Kitchener, Wang will document Vanderpool’s quest to become the Canadian middleweight champion.

“It’s such a good story – a local hero with an anything-is-possible attitude,” Wang said. “I’m excited and probably just as confident about this project as Fitz is about winning the belt.”

Vanderpool (25-7-4), who owns and operates Vanderpool Fitness and Boxing in Waterloo and ended a seven-year retirement in September, will fight for the vacant National Boxing Authority Canadian middleweight title, tentatively scheduled for February in New Brunswick.

The former Canadian welterweight champ will take on the winner of a Nov. 24 elimination bout in Moncton, N.B., between No. 2 Stuart McLellan of Williams Lake, B.C., and No. 9 Chris Aucoin of St. Williams, Ont.

The 26-year-old McLellan (7-0-3) last fought Kitchener’s Julius Bunda in September of 2011 for the vacant Canadian Professional Boxing Council middleweight title, which was declared a draw.

Aucoin (4-10-1), meanwhile, has fought five times in 2012, all lost by unanimous decision.

“Whoever it is, I’ll be ready,” Vanderpool said.

“I’ll be ready to bring the belt back to Kitchener.”

Wang – who has been brushing up on boxing movies and documentaries like Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull and James Toback’s Tyson – was drawn to the documentary idea immediately. He expects the 60- to 90-minute film to be released next April with the initial goal of airing it on stations like TVO, PBS or CBC.

Wang is looking for sponsors for the project, with tiered funding levels from $50 or less to $3,000 or more.